Chico doctor, wife accused of killing adopted son, 2

Benjamin died in April

UPDATED 4:23 PM PST Dec 30, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) -

A Chico doctor and his wife are accused of killing their 2-year-old adopted son, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

Dr. James Yhip, 46, will face a murder charge and a count of felony child endangerment, according to a news release from Sgt. Jason Hail. Edelyn Magakat Yhip, 43, will be charged with the same -- along with one count of the abuse of a child younger than 8 years old causing death.

They are being held on bail set at more than $1 million and $2 million, respectively, Hail said. The couple were arrested Wednesday.

Their son, Benjamin, was pronounced dead April 19. He died of blunt-force trauma, Hail said, citing a coroner.

Edelyn Yhip called 911 one day earlier from the couple's home on Gardenbrook Drive. She told officials her son was unresponsive.

A crew arrived and took Benjamin to Enloe Hospital, in Chico.

The toddler was stabilized before being airlifted to Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, Hail said.

His condition worsened, and he died in the afternoon hours of that Thursday.

After a months-long investigation by the Sheriff's Office and district attorney investigators, Benjamin's parents were booked into the Butte County Jail.